Schools in Nailsea – Everything You Need to Know About Schools Reopening 2020
Following government guidance, schools in Nailsea may begin to open up to certain year groups from June 1st. Find out everything you need to know about the conditional reopening of schools with this guide.
Read the official government guidance on schools here.
Please note that the decision to reopen and the specifics may vary from school to school.
Which year groups are included?
The government is keen for nurseries and preschools to open and Reception, Year 1, and Year 6 pupils to return to school initially.
Year 10 and Year 12 students may receive face to face support over the coming months too, however secondary schools are likely to remain closed for the foreseeable future.
Why these year groups?
These year groups have been identified as ‘key transition years’. In order to safely return children to school, emphasis has been placed on these year groups.
Are children of key workers still allowed to go to school?
Children of key workers currently attending school will be allowed to continue, regardless of year group. This also includes vulnerable children.
Schools that do not currently offer this may begin to do so in the coming weeks. Read North Somerset Council’s information to key worker parents here.
Do I have to send my children to school?
Attendance is voluntary. North Somerset Council has stated that there will not be fines for parents who do not send their children to school this term.
When will children be allowed back to school?
The Prime Minister said schools may open up to certain years from 1st June, provided conditions have been met. Certain assurances about the rate of infection must be met before the decision is finalised. Schools will only be reopened once it is deemed safe enough to do so.
When will the government decide if it is safe?
The government is expected to announce whether this conditional reopening guidance will come into force on Thursday 28th May.
How will schools be made safe for children?
Following risk assessments and planning, schools opening up to limited year groups will be introducing measures to reduce the risk to children.
Social distancing will be enforced where possible, involving the movement of classroom furniture and reduced number of students in a classroom. Classes will be no larger than 15 pupils with one dedicated member of staff to form a bubble.
Staggered timings, e.g. for lunch or arrival, may be introduced to reduce the number of people gathering at one time.
Measures are likely to vary across schools; however, social distancing measures are essential for reopening. It has been generally accepted that it may be difficult to implement 2-metre distancing with younger children.
Current evidence suggests that children are less vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, however, the extent to which they transmit the virus is yet undetermined.
Schools in Nailsea
What are schools in Nailsea planning to do?
Schools in Nailsea have laid out plans for the coming weeks in the event government guidance is adapted to allow for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils to return to school.
Each school has created solutions that work for it individually and its specific needs. Allowances are likely to vary across schools.
Schools across Nailsea have provided much needed support, communication and dedication to education through the pandemic. Online resources will still be made available for year groups and pupils not returning to school.
All information correct at time of writing (27th May 2020).
View reopening plan here. Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 back to school with staggered starting dates.
The Whiteoak Academies of Hannah More Infants and Grove Juniors
View reopening plan here. Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 back to school with staggered starting dates.
View reopening plan here. Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 back to school with reduced days.
St Francis’ Catholic Primary School
Reopening to children of key workers from 1st June.
School currently open to some pupils. Constant assessment of safety and possibly to offer more spaces.
Not opening to students yet. Assessing if and when face to face teaching for Year 10 and Year 12 would be possible.
North Somerset Council Statement
North Somerset Council is supporting schools in their decision, whether they are able to safely reopen or not. Cllr Catherine Gibbons, North Somerset Council’s executive member for children’s services and lifelong learning, said:
“Heads and teachers are best placed to know whether they can safely open their school and how many children they can keep safe and they also know their local communities.
“This Government announcement won’t be correct for every school or every child. We will treat these decisions on their merits and show trust in our school leaders.
“There are some schools in which the safety guidelines can be met, and we will support those that can open from June 1.
“But we also know that many will not be able to achieve that, and we support schools in their decision making.
“We will not issue fines to those parents who choose to keep their child at home during this term.
“We also support calls by the Local Government Association and teaching unions that all the relevant scientific advice on child transmission should be published immediately so that head teachers and families can make informed decisions.
“It will be important for heads to take time to undertake full risk assessments and only open to more children when it is safe to do so.
“And of course we know that parents and carers know their children best and we support them in making the right decisions – whether to send their children to school or not – according to their own circumstances and the approach taken by their school.”
Thank you to the schools in Nailsea!
If you have any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Confirmation of school reopening can be expected after the government announcement on Thursday 28th May 2020.